PIN Jean-Philippe - PRÉZEAU Laurent

Research subject

Glutamate and gamma-amminobutyric acid (GABA) are the main excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters of the nervous system. They act on ligand-gated ion channels which are responsible for fast synaptic responses. They also modulate synaptic activity through the activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR): metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu) and GABAB receptors. These receptors are considered as promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

To identify new means and strategies to modulate their activity in vivo, our team is working at deciphering their mechanisms of activation at molecular and cellular levels, and at analyzing their association in signaling protein complexes. Thanks to the development of new technologies, we have revealed novel concepts about GPCR function, notably their association in dimers and higher order oligomers, and their asymmetrical mode of action. This knowledge allows us to identify new agents acting on mGlu and GABAB receptors and to highlight their therapeutic potential in Parkinson’s disease and pain.